Tip # 1 : Create Spot To Gather

Perhaps the best place to get started is by creating a space in the backyard with plenty of space for family & friends to sit & gather around.

This can be anything from a fire pit, a shady tree, fountain or sculpture, a favorite piece of artwork; whatever your favorite part of your backyard, arrange seating to attract attention & make a welcoming hangout spot.

Tip # 2 : Use Trees To Provide Light

Trees are rarely put to any use at night mainly because there is never enough light around them to attract attention.

From Christmas lights to candles, there are plenty of creative ways to make your trees a little brighter.

Tip # 3 : Patterns Help Everything Match

No matter what furniture style or material you are using, one simple pattern (top right) can help everything come together.

If you have all the same material furniture (bottom), use similar colors & designs instead of identical ones to add some necessary variety.

Tip # 4 : Heaters Are Both Warm & Inviting

Chilly weather should not stop you from enjoying the beauty of your backyard.

Outdoor heaters are an easy addition & can help motivate guests to take that first step outside when weather can be questionable.

These days it is getting harder and harder to argue that cooking inside gives you an advantage over cooking outside. With the fresh air, warm sun inviting and convenient outdoor kitchen features, cooking or entertaining outside has never been more fun.

The real debate is over the appliances and tools used to get the most out of your outdoor cooking experience.

What is the one item or appliance in your outdoor kitchen you could not live with out?

We have put together this list of 6 Outdoor Kitchen Essentials, to show exactly which appliances and products we can't cook without.

From this list you will learn:

- The 6 "must-have's" for the crafting the perfect outdoor kitchen.

- Premium products from the most premier brands in outdoor cooking.

- 20+ outdoor kitchen photos of these amazing products in action.

If that all sounds good to you, let's get cooking!

1) Fire Magic | Outdoor Refridgerator

2) Big Green Egg | Charcoal Grill

Want to learn more about high-tech grilling on the Big Green Egg? Read this >

High End Outdoor Furniture

When we say "high end" outdoor furniture it does not automatically mean it will have a absurd price tag. High end outdoor furniture simply means that it is not going to fall apart or break in 2 to 3 years. Today high end outdoor furniture can be expected to last just as long as indoor casual living furniture, due to the quality materials used and technological advances in the outdoor furniture industry.

High End Outdoor Furniture For A Small Area

Not much outdoor space to work with? There are countless types & styles of luxury outdoor furniture collections made for small outdoor areas. Just because you don't have a huge outdoor living area doesn't mean you can't enjoy the outdoors!

High End Outdoor Furniture For Dining

Take your next dinner party outside! Outdoor dining furniture gives you a comfortable and convenient outdoor enviroment to enjoy when entertaining friends & family.

High End Outdoor Furniture For Lounging

Never fight for a lounge chair in the sun again! Relax in your favorite outdoor area like your at your own private 5 star resort.

High End Outdoor Furniture For Entertaining

Are you someone who loves to open up your home and host the annual neighborhood party or family reunion? With the constant use the furniture is sure to get, make sure it is "high end" quality outdoor furniture.

Outdoor Shade

Creating a shaded area in an outdoor living area is essential to the comfort of anyone using it for extended periods of time. Modern day shade products are built with light weight strong metals & colorful fabrics made to stand up against even the harshest weather. Don't let the heat keep you from enjoying the great outdoors!

Umbrellas

Outdoor umbrellas come in a range of sizes, colors & styles to match your outdoor furniture theme or fabric pattern. High end outdoor umbrellas are made of durable metals that hold steady through powerful wind bursts, but are light weight enough to be moved to around your patio.

Awnings & Cabanas

Plan ahead to beat the heat! Make your outdoor patio more enjoyable with a quality patio shade awning or cabana! Just like a 5 star resort, cabanas create a private & comfortably shaded outdoor room while an awning will enable you to shade large outdoor areas.

Outdoor Fire Pit & Fireplace

It's no coincidence people always seem to naturally gather around the fire pit at backyard parties or events. In fact, humans have been sitting and socializing next to the fire for thousands of years. Thanks to a few advances in technology, today gas fire pits give you a blazing hot fire without making your clothes stink like a campfire

Fire Chat Pit

Enjoy your outdoor patio during the all year long, even on the coldest months of the year with a fire chat pit. It even looks great even when you are not using it!

Outdoor Fireplace

The very presence of a fireplace elevates the mood of an outdoor room. It becomes the focal point of your outdoor area and influences every decorating decision around it. A premium quality fireplace is like a frame around a masterwork of art.

Outdoor Kitchen Designs

Outdoor kitchen designs are becoming more and more popular in new housing plans simply because people love them. Why? Cooking outside is just better! Having an outdoor kitchen gives you an extension from your home's living area or kitchen to cook and entertain guests.

BBQ Grills

The center piece of your outdoor kitchen design, BBQ Grills are made with a variety of different performance levels and unique features. Before you choose the center piece of your ideal outdoor kitchen, make sure it fits your outdoor cooking style.

Grill Accessories & Counter Space

Customize your outdoor kitchen to fit how you like to cook outdoors. With grill accessories like, an outdoor refrigerator, stove counter top, cocktail making station, storage space to put cooking tools & many other outdoor kitchen accessories to make outdoor cooking more convenient. But don't get carried away with accessories and forget to leave yourself a little bit of counter space to set trays or dishes of food down.

Garden Fountains & Statuary

Bring your garden to life with the soothing sound of water from an elegant fountain that provides a comforting backdrop for your patio or yard. Add statuary or metal art to decorate your garden with your own personal style or theme.

Fountains

Bring the peaceful sound of water running by your favorite outdoor area. Garden fountains are created in hundreds of sizes and shapes to fit even the smallest outdoor spaces.

Statuary

Add a classic & elegant style to any corner of your garden or home. Garden statuary includes religious statues, planters, birdbaths, tables and decorative concrete benches designed from the industry’s leading manufacturers like Brandelli Arts, Fiore Stone, and many more.

We hope you enjoyed this Outdoor Living & Lifestyle Blog on 12 Patio Design Ideas. If you know someone that might like this, please help us share!

Temperatures are warming up and so is outdoor living. Now is the time you'll want to start spending more time enjoying the beautiful weather. Todays outdoor furniture collections combine modern style with long lasting comfort that rival many name brand indoor furniture sets.

As you flip through the next 50 Luxury Patio Furniture collections, you will find elegant lounge, dining and entertainment outdoor furniture sets designed for the residential or business space. We hope you find ideas and inspiration to create your dream outdoor living area.

Outdoor Kitchens are becoming more and more popular in new housing designs simply because people love them. Why? Cooking outside is just better. Having an outdoor kitchen gives you an extension from your home's living area or kitchen to cook and entertain guests.

This blog features a collection of modern outdoor kitchens with different designs, features and styles that make them a part of our top 50 incredible outdoor kitchens.

Lynx Outdoor Kitchens & Grills

Alfresco Outdoor Kitchens & Grills

Download your Free copy of The Barbecue Grill Buying Guide to learn more about the different types of professional outdoor grills to fit your dream outdoor kitchen!

Know someone that might like this blog on outdoor kitchens? Share it & help us spread this post!

Special thanks to HGTV, Casual Living, Veranda, This Old House, Concrete Network, Ronda Outdoors, The Viking Craftsman, Pool Side Designs, Unique Landscapes, and Outdoor Galaxy for the beautiful photography seen in this post.

It's no coincidence people always seem to naturally converge around the fire pit at backyard parties. In fact, humans have been sitting and socializing next to the fire for thousands of years. Thanks to a few advances in technology, today gas fire pits give you a roaring fire without making your clothes stink like a campfire.

This short blog features 21 outdoor spaces centered around modern outdoor fire pits. We hope you discover a fire pit that inspires you to shape your dream fire pit lounge. Enjoy!

For over 60 years Tropitone has been one of the leading designers and manufacturers of both residential and commercial outdoor furniture. Because of their outstanding craftsmanship and modern design, they have earned their reputation as one of the premier outdoor furniture brands.

Tropitone has one of the widest selections of outdoor patio furniture styles, finishes, colors and fabrics. Therefore, making the task of finding elegant, comfortable furniture to fit your lifestyle is both simple and affordable.

Tropitone is known around the world for furnishing hotels, resorts and commercial businesses with a unique contemporary style.

Tropitone the outdoor furniture market by creating luxurious but traditional outdoor furniture. Tropitone's outdoor furniture collections radiate modern style and give life to any outdoor space.

Tropitone Outdoor Dining Collections

More and more homeowners are creating outdoor areas to cook, eat and entertain right in their backyard. An all in one outdoor kitchen and dining area to share with friends and family. Choosing an outdoor dining set can give you the space you need to eat with or entertain guests.

Choosing the right dining set that matches your style and gives you the comfort you want in outdoor furniture is where the tricky part comes in.

Tropitone's outdoor dining collections gives you many options to choose from when it comes to building your ideal outside dining area.

First, choose from an expansive collection of durable and hand finished tops that are ideal for any outdoor environment or climate. Ranging from glass tops to aluminum tables, Tropitone's dining tables are all built to endure years and years of use and weather.

Next, choose which style dining chair to match your dining table. Tropitone has hundreds of different cushions with unique fabrics, patterns and colors to match any outdoor area. For higher comfort levels make sure to look for Tropitone's thick dining cushions.

Tropitone Outdoor Bar Stools

Regular and swivel bar stools are growing in popularity as more and more people adopt an outdoor living lifestyle and build luxurious outdoor rooms. Outdoor kitchens and bars are being built in backyards all over Southern California.

Tropitone bar stools do not take up much floor space and are a staple in the hospitality and commercial industries. Patio furniture at the bar creates an environment for socializing and entertaining.

Tropitone outdoor bar stools are built with durable materials strong enough to handle the harshest climates and even constant wear and tear by guests at a resort or at your home.

Tropitone builds a wide range of durable bar stools in a variety of heights, designs and styles so you can match to the architecture of your home.

Tropitone Chaise Lounges

Tropitone chaise lounge collections come in a variety of shapes, materials, colors and fabrics to match any outdoor space. Tropitone carries over 30 different styles of outdoor chaises while continuing to design new features and styles to enhance the appeal of backyards and business around the world.

Outdoor chaise lounges that are stackable and easy to maintain are a pool or patio must for hospitality and commercial businesses. Providing comfort to guests lounging by the pool, resort or balcony enhances their experience. If it is outside there is a space that could be furnished.

Tropitone Fire Collection

"Fire pits are quickly becoming one of the most popular items in backyards all over Southern California." -Doug Sanicola

There are a few reasons fire pits are becoming so popular. Whether it's catching up with friends or roasting marshmallows with family, fire pits create a social and comfortable environment to keep the party going all night.

Secondly, all of the Tropitone's fire pit collection is fueled by either natural gas or propane. This provides for an affordable and clean burn. There is no more need to clean up of ash or wash the smoke scent out of your clothes when your done.

The Tropitone fire collection has all the features, styles and colors to create a warm and comfortable outdoor space that matches your home. Tropitone outdoor fire pits are known for their simple elegant design, quality and consistent reliability.

Commercial Outdoor Furniture by Tropitone

Since 1950 Tropitone has been working to furnish outdoor spaces at hotels, resorts, clubs, cruise ships, restaurants and many other business all over the world. Tropitone has been creating outdoor entertainment spaces for over 60 years and it is difficult to find anyone doing it better.

Outdoor Dining & Entertainment Spaces Furnished by Tropitone

Dining and entertainment businesses know it is more important than ever to keep up with modern styles and trends. People enjoy being out and around people but prefer to stay in their social circles, making sectional couches very popular in contemporary restaurants or night lounges.

Hotels and Resorts Furnished by Tropitone

Many people will choose to stay or not stay at a resort or hotel based on the condition of it's pool or outdoor spaces. Having comfortable and quality outdoor furniture, especially at warm weather destinations where guests prefer to spend time outside, is essential.

Around the world you can find hotels and resorts furnished by Tropitone.

With the inevitable wear and tear from constant year round use, it's important to invest in quality outdoor furniture.

Tropitone Featured Collection | The Cabana Collection

The Cabana collection is displayed in many prestigious commercial locations and luxurious residential living areas around the world. Known for its modern sleek style and distinct design the Cabana collection offers prime seating around any pool patio or outdoor entertainment area.

The most popular outdoor sectional lounges creates a comfortable, social and VIP atmosphere for the guest to relax in even the smallest outdoor spaces.

Century Furniture is amongst the largest privately owned manufactures of luxury outdoor furniture. Because of their outstanding craftsmanship and high-end design, they have earned their reputation as one of the premier outdoor furniture brands.

Recognized in the industry as a trend-setter of design, Century is has been on the forefront of finishing expertise and the details of fine craftsmanship since 1947.

Century furniture strives to partner with the most innovative and talented designers in the furniture fashion industry. Every designer has brought their own unique elegance to each piece of furniture they create.

Take a look at Century's top outdoor furniture designers along with the choice collections they have designed.

The Richard Frinier Collections

Richard Frinier is Century's most experienced and highly regarded outdoor furniture designer. His travel-inspired designs give the freedom to create some truly extraordinary outdoor spaces with the look and feel of a luxury resort.

These award winning furniture collections are known for their versatility and can be used for casual and high-use outdoor spaces, not to mention a variety of Sunbrella brand fabrics designed by Richard himself.

The Bunny Williams Collections

Century furniture designer, Bunny Williams, has over 40 years in furniture design. Her knowledge of the decorative arts and well honed skills as a designer make her a perfect fit with Century's design team.Her work is rregularly featured in top design magazines around the world, in newspapers, on television, and in film.

Engineered to perform beautifully for year-round outdoor exposure, the outdoor collections by Bunny Williams yield a unique design with a familiar feel.

Take a look at some of Bunny Williams' best collections.

Litchfield

Raw teak wood is used on these pieces for a solid, gorgeous design

Turned and reeded legs that accent the unique back styling

Cocktail and dining tables featuring sleek, high-end engineering

Tidewater

Hand woven resin in two unique weave patterns features a subtle two-tone warm brown color way called Truffle

Frames are constructed of powder coated aluminum for durability

High-resiliency foam core Driluxe brand cushions that have been constructed with a water-repellent cover

The Oscar de la Renta Collections

Dominican Republic native, Oscar de la Renta, has over 40 years experience working with designers all around the world including Madrid and Paris. Now part of Century's team of elite outdoor designers, Oscar has certainly come a long way from his humble roots.

His outdoor collections are designed for freedom of versatility and endurance to stand up to the elements through any season.

Take a look at the Cane collection from Oscar de la Renta.

Cane

Inspired from the architecture in Punta Cana in the Domenican Republic, the over sized and luxurious design can bring the Caribbean feel to a Southern California backyard

Features a mélange of cast stone and faux rattan, showing off the relaxed island living attitude

The herringbone and can weaving patterns used are quite labor intensive, but the result is a gorgeous outdoor collection worthy of the standard Century sets

What We Learned

1) Professional Design

Unlike other furniture brands, Century goes above and beyond to recruit the most respected furniture designers to ensure the look and feel furniture is unique and always ahead of the curve.

2) Handcrafted Touch

Each collection has labor-intensive, handcrafted elements that all are cohesively responsible for setting themselves apart from the rest.

3) Premium Quality

Century holds all their furniture to the highest possible standard, from sand-cast aluminum frames to weather-resistant powder coating, Century does everything they can to make sure their furniture can stand up to whatever elements are thrown at it.

Jensen truly does an amazing job of designing quality furniture with a bold look. Because of their unique modern design and expert timber craftsmanship, Jensen Leisure Furniture has deservingly received a lot of attention from designers all around the Los Angeles and Orange County area.

Jensen uses Ipé&Robleswood in their furniture design, to capture the warmth and feeling of the Southern California lifestyle. A distinctive look and attention to detail are elements of what set Jensen Leisure Furniture apart from other outdoor brands. Starting from the forest floor, every detail is inspected till it is patio-ready.

By using only FSC-Certified wood, Jensen works hard to maintain the long-term well-being of the forests where Ipé comes from. Ipé wood is incredibly strong and dense, with very high wear durability.

A handsome chocolate-brown when new, the strength and durability of Ipé has been long recognized in the deck boards of the historic Solferino Footbridge which crosses the Seine River in central Paris, in the famous boardwalk at Atlantic City, NJ, and in the wood slats in all of the benches at Central Park in New York City.

Outdoor Furniture Sets & Options From Jensen Leisure

Clearly this wood has a tough and sturdy wood design that is made to last. Because quality is such an fundamental element to their furniture, Jensen backs all their products with a five year warranty.

Thoughtful design & solid craftsmenship, those are the words that Jensen Leisure represents.

Let's take a look at the different kinds of furniture arrangements & options From Jensen

Dining Tables & Chairs

In Southern California, outdoor dining has become an essential part of living the SoCal lifestyle. Taking advantage of the best weather in the world & enjoying great food in your backyard is what it is all about.

Depending on the style of seating, Jensen offers a wide variety of outdoor dining sets in each of their furniture collections. You have stretch dining sets for nice sit down meals with the family or tall bar stool seating to throw back a few drinks with some friends.

These dining sets feature lots of table space & formal seating arrangements so the whole family can enjoy both good food & good company.

Lounge Seating & Arrangements

If entertaining & relaxing in your backyard sounds like more your style, then Jensen Leisure lounge sets might be what you are looking for. Perfect for kicking back by the pool or sharing some stories with friends over cigars, these arrangements can make all the difference when it comes to the comfort of your backyard.

Kick back with friends after a swim on a two or three seater sofa. Or if brunch and afternoon tea sounds like a more enjoyable, single chairs & rockers might be what you are looking for.

These lounge sets feature large pillow seating and stout tables with a design focused mainly around comfort & decoration.

Benches & Swings

Jensen makes sharing the SoCal lifestyle with friends & family special, but what about enjoying the intimate comforts of the backyard.

Benches & swings from Jensen can make your garden into a quiet place to get some reading done or a turn a view of the evening sunset into a romantic hangout for two.

There are variety of benches available from Jensen in each of their collections.

Chaise Lounges & Rockers

Sprawling out & soaking up the California sun is a luxury those around Los Angeles & Orange County get to enjoy almost year round.

Chaise lounges from Jensen have a unique style & distinct look that makes hanging poolside a little more comfortable.

Jensen has a variety of chaise lounges that can match your pool or your favorite collection.

Collections by Jensen Leisure

Now that you know the types of furniture sets that Jensen produces, we can take a look at the collections that Jensen has designed. Each collection has it's own unique style & finish so whichever furniture sets or arrangments are picked, they can all have a consistent design & flow.

Most of the collections including Traditional, Opal, & Topaz use the dark Ipé wood. The Argento collection is the only one that uses the white Roble wood. Take a look at the different outdoor furniture collections by Jensen Leisure.

Traditional

The Traditional collection by Jensen is the original & most popular design. Because it is their first collection, it also has the best selection of different sets & styles than the other collections.

Opal

Using the same Ipé wood as the Traditional collection, the Opal collection has a lighter tone & uses bright white accents which blend in with the rich finish of the wood.

The Opal collection has furniture sets for dining, benches, & chaise lounges. However, their leisure sets with large couches & coffee tables are the highlight of the collection.

This collection also has a few unique accessories that can make the most of an outdoor space, such as a decorative table that highlights the dining area or an ottoman to put your legs up.

Topaz

The Topaz collection by Jensen Leisure uses a darker finish of the Ipé wood than the Opal collection, but it is probably the most unique. By using a combination of white and teal highlights, this collection is designed to accent the natural setting of a pool or garden.

Although there are no benches in the Topaz collection, their dining seating has widest range of options including formal, swivel & hi dining seating.

If a pool is in the backyard, it is the leisure sets & chaise lounges that are the real keys to the Topaz collection. The white sling of the lounges & the teal pillow seats are flow so well against water, & most importantly they are the comfortable way to soak up the sun after an afternoon swim.

Argento

In the Argento collection by Jensen Leisure, you can tell right away that the white Roble wood design is the feature that sets it apart.

This collection features all the furniture options you would expect including dining seating, benches, and lounge sets plus other pieces including lazy susans, ottomans, and swivel rockers.

The unique look of the Roble wood is very flattering against white cobblestone, but it even has an elegant look against brick and wood.

Have you been wanting to create your perfect outdoor space but don't know which outdoor furniture brands you can trust?

Today inexperienced retailers are selling outdoor furniture with minimal information about the product. Even some grocery and hardware stores are selling outdoor furniture now. People with little knowledge of the product or outdoor furniture industry are telling you their product will, "last for years."

This may be your second time around buying a furniture set in the last few years wondering, will my next set last?Am I wasting money on a product that I will have to replace in two or three years? What type of frame material is the most durable?

We are here to guide you and help you understand outdoor furniture better! Keep reading for a better understanding of the top outdoor furniture frames and brands!

7 Strongest Outdoor Furniture Frames

Choosing the right frame material is the most important thing to consider when buying outdoor furniture. It will determine how durable the furniture can be and how long it will last.

Think of outdoor furniture as an investment. Do you want your furniture set lasting two years or be the last set you'll purchase? Listed below are the strongest and most reliable frames outdoor furniture has to offer.

Aluminum

Cast Aluminum

Wrought Aluminum

Wood

Stainless steel

Wicker (Woven)

Wrought Iron

Traditional Frames

Wood

Naturally beautiful, wood gives a comfortable feeling to any outdoor space. However, wood requires refinish and maintenance every two years minimum to maintain the color and protective finish.

Wicker furniture is light weight and relatively durable. Woven from natural materials and PVC, these lightweight frames are also easy to move around. Woven frames offers the look and warmth of natural wicker and the durablity of an aluminum furniture.

Lane Venture, Wicker (Woven) Harbor Breeze, Lifetime= 10-15 years.

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel offers a modern style to any outdoor space. Stainless steel offers a modern style to any outdoor space. Prov as a superior outdoor material, it has found its way into outdoor furniture with amazing results. With its resistance to corrosion and oxidation, it makes an excellent choice.

Stainless Steel Furniture Set, Lifetime=20+ years.

Wrought Iron

Wrought Iron is one of the most durable and longest lasting type of outdoor furniture available, many times lasting decades. Truly an investment that keeps on giving, wrought iron furniture is also the heaviest frame.

Aluminum Frames

Aluminum is the most common type of outdoor furniture frame material. Aluminum is a light weight anddurable metal. Perfect for outdoor furniture and is the least expensive type of furniture frame to make because of an abundance of aluminum. There are three main types of aluminum outdoor furniture frames to consider, , cast and wrought aluminum.

Aluminum

Aluminum provides comparable durablity to cast and wrought aluminum but usually with a more attractive price point.

Brown Jordan,Aluminum Parkway, Lifetime= 20+ years.

Cast Aluminum

This frame material is heavier and more design oriented than aluminum. The only difference is that the molten aluminum is poured into a cast mold, allowing for intricate designs and shapes that would otherwise not be possible to make. Standard aluminum outdoor furniture is usually hollow, unlike cast aluminum that is slightly heavier but denser and more durable.

Hanamint, Cast Aluminum Grand Tuscany Dining, Lifetime= 15+ years.

Wrought Aluminum

Wrought Aluminum is bent and manipulated into shape and reinforced over and over. Wrought aluminum offers similar design characteristics as it's wrought iron counterpart. This would be a great option if you want the iron look but live in a more coastal area.

O.W. Lee, Wrought Aluminum Gios Collection, Lifetime= 20+ Years.

Choosing a furniture set can be overwhelming. Hopefully you now have a better understanding of outdoor furniture frames so you can ask you retailer, designer or self the right questions to create your dream backyard!

Before you take that next step, download our Free Outdoor Furniture Buying Guide below for more helpful furniture tips!